SHADOW!

Shadow. Darkness. Transient. Flat. “Unreal.” But where there is shadow, there is light, and substance, and tridimensionality, and “reality.”

My days are like
a lengthened shadow,
and I wither away like grass.
But You, O LORD, abide forever,
and Your name to all generations.
Psalm 102:11–12

No wonder the prayers and poems of the Bible frequently refer to human life as a shadow. Darkness. Transient. Flat. “Unreal.” But, for believers in Christ, a representation of things to come. A foreshadowing. Of light, eternity, multidimensionality, and … REALITY!

… our God, we thank You,
and praise Your glorious name.
For we are sojourners before You,
and tenants, as all our fathers were;
our days on the earth
are like a shadow,
and there is no hope.
1 Chronicles 29:13, 15

Hope there would not be, were it not for the mercy and grace of God that brought us out of the shadow.

There were those
who dwelt in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
prisoners in misery and chains.
Then they cried out
to the LORD in their trouble;
He saved them
out of their distresses.
He brought them
out of darkness
and the shadow of death
and broke their bands apart.
Psalm 107:10, 13–14

The work of Christ on the cross, paying the price for our sin, rescued us. The coming of the Light. Christ came. Christ shone. Christ conquered.

The people who were sitting
in darkness saw a great light,
and those who were sitting
in the land and shadow of death,
upon them a light dawned.
Matthew 4:16

Believers in Christ are now no more in darkness. No more do we fall under the shadow.

But you are a chosen race,
a royal priesthood, a holy nation,
a people for God’s own possession,
so that you may proclaim
the excellencies of Him
who has called you out of darkness
into His marvelous light.
1 Peter 2:9

And now we dwell under His shadow.

How precious
is Your lovingkindness, O God!
And the children of men
take refuge in
the shadow of Your wings.
For You have been my help,
and in the shadow of Your wings
I sing for joy.
Psalm 36:7; 63:7

The shadows of this world no longer need hold any fear for the child of God.

Even though I walk through
the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil,
for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff,
they comfort me.
Psalm 23:4

We have a refuge.

He who dwells in
the shelter of the Most High
will abide in
the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say to the LORD,
“My refuge and my fortress,
My God, in whom I trust!”
Psalm 91:1

Now we have a responsibility to live as in the Light.

For you were formerly darkness,
but now you are
Light in the Lord;
walk as children of Light.
Ephesians 5:8

No more do we need to live under the sway of the shadow.

The night is almost gone,
and the day is near.
Therefore let us lay aside
the deeds of darkness
and put on the armor of light.
Romans 13:12

Children of light, living in the Light. Awake. Alert. Attentive.

But you, brothers and sisters,
are not in darkness,
that the day would
overtake you like a thief;
for you are all children of light
and children of day.
We are not of night nor of darkness;
so then let us not sleep as others do,
but let us be alert and sober.
1 Thessalonians 5:4–6

Sharp. Shining. Sober.